The Texas Rangers have activated pitcher Nathan Eovaldi from the injured list in preparation for his start against the Houston Astros. Eovaldi, who hasn’t pitched since July 18 due to a forearm strain, will take the mound for the Rangers in the second game of their series against the Astros.
The Rangers had hoped for Eovaldi’s return before September 1, but he experienced side soreness after a bullpen session in Minnesota, delaying his comeback. Despite not making a rehab start in the minor leagues, Eovaldi is confident in his ability to get major league hitters out.
Manager Bruce Bochy confirmed that Eovaldi will likely be on an innings limit and will require another pitcher to piggyback him. Dane Dunning, who has transitioned from reliever to starter this season, is the most logical choice as he would’ve been due to start on Tuesday anyway. Another option could be starter-turned-reliever Martin Perez, but he threw 29 pitches in Monday’s game and won’t be available. Cody Bradford, a starter by trade, could also provide some length after throwing 14 pitches in Sunday’s walk-off win against the Minnesota Twins.
The Rangers will need to make a corresponding roster move to accommodate Eovaldi’s activation. Right-hander Glenn Otto, who has struggled this season with a 10.13 ERA, is a likely candidate to be sent down to Triple-A. Another option is righty Josh Sborz, who has seen a decline in his performance recently with a 12.51 ERA in his last 13.2 innings pitched.
Eovaldi has been one of the best starters in baseball prior to his injury, boasting a 2.69 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 123 and 2/3 innings pitched. He pitched seven shutout innings against the Astros in his lone start against them this season on July 1.
The Rangers, who have lost 12 of their last 16 games, are currently one game behind the Astros and the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. They hold a slim half-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays for the third and final Wild Card spot. Eovaldi’s return, alongside three-time Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer’s scheduled start on Wednesday, may give the Rangers a much-needed boost to stay in the playoff race.
In conclusion, the Texas Rangers have activated Nathan Eovaldi from the injured list, and he is set to start against the Houston Astros. The Rangers will need to manage Eovaldi’s innings as he returns from a forearm strain, and a corresponding roster move will be made. Eovaldi’s return could provide a much-needed spark for the struggling Rangers as they aim to secure a playoff spot in a tight race.
